Thomas h



(No Model.)

T. H. MCGLEAN.. WINDMILL.Y

N0. 490,359. Patented Jan. Z4. 1893.

&\\\\\\\\ I www @mf UN 'torta y THOMAS II. MCCLEAN, OF

WASHINGTON, IOWA.

WlNDiVllLL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 490,359, dated January 24, 1893. Application filed June 4, 1891 Serial No. 395,026. (No model.)

hereinbefore referred to; and it operates in the same manner as that just referred to, except that instead of employing the direct force of the wind upon the blades of the fan wheel, to

To a/ZZ whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that l, THOMAS H. MoCLEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVashington, in the county of Washington and State of Iowa, have invented a new an useful Improvement in Windmills, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wind mills, and more particularly that class employed in grinding grain and for similar purposes; and its objects are to provide means for overcoming the resistance produced by the mechanism operated, and the material operated upon, which constantly tends to change the position of the fan wheel from a direct line before the wind, thereby causing it to lose considerable of its power. Also to automatically equalize the force and effect of the wind upon the fan wheel itself. I accomplish these results by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l, represents a side elevation of. my invention with portions of the principal fan wheel and the supplemental fan wheel cut away; Fig. 2,represents a cross sectional view of the collar G, and the various parts upon which it rests; Fig. 3, is a vertical longitudinal sectioncl view of Fig. l, omitting the fan wheels.

Like letters and numerals of reference are used to designate similar parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In a companion application executed by me of the same date as this present application, and filed on the 4th day of J une, 1891, Serial No. 395,026 I have described and claimed certain improvements in wind mills, the objects and purposes of are more fully set out therein. The construction therein shown and described of the principal fan wheel is the same as that presented in this present application, with reference to the construction ot' the fan wheel, its blades and the various devices provided for keeping the fan wheel in position before the wind, and of automatically opening and closing the blades of the wheel before the wind. The construction of what I term the supplementar fan wheel in the invention described in and this performs practically the same function with reference to the supplementary fan wheel that the weight or spring does with reference to the principal fan wheel, as hereinafter explained.

One of the difficulties heretofore experienced in grinding grain and other material by means of wind mills has been that the resistance to the motion of the fan wheel has cause it vto shift around upon the gearing or other means rovided for communicating power from the wind mill proper to the grinding mechanism, and, thereby to shift and change the position of the fan wheel before the wind. In my present invention I provide means whereby this resistance may be automatically overcome, and the principal fan wheel which communicates power, is kept constantly before the wind, and thereby operated to its maximum energy.

The letter A represents the frame provided with brackets M, M, having journals for a shaft 25, carrying ascrew thread 27, which engages with a wheel Q. The frame Ais also provided with bearings D, D, supporting the shaft C, which carries at each end respectively the principal and supplemental fan wheels. There is in this case, and in the pending application already referred to, located upon the shaft C a sliding collar G, which operates to close the blades of the fan wheels by means of connections, rods, levers, S, 9, and pendent rod le which supports a weight, so that when the wind blows with sufficient force to overcome to a greater or less extent the suspended weight or spring, as the case may be, attached to the rod I4, the blades of the principal fan wheel open at an angle and power is at once applied through it to the grinding mechanism. This is accomplished by a gearing T which is rigidly fixed upon the shaft C and meshes with another bevel gearing T attached to a hollow tube or cylinder 26 extending below and being connected with the grinding or other mechanism in the usual manner. The toothed wheel Q is rigidly atthis present application is identical with that of the main or principal wheel which is fully described in my said companion application tached to the ordinary and usual frame Work, projections oi' crank arms 5, causing blades upon which the whole frame A and superof the supplemental fan Wheel to partly close structure may revolve. The frame A is also to an angle to the Wind, and it at once begins 7o provided with a projection R upon which is to ievolve to the iight oi left as directed bv fitted a sleeve O supporting a tail or bladeS; plate S which communicates motion to the this sleeve O being capable of revolving sprocket Wheels N, N, and opeiates the sci ew around the projection R. 27 t at engages in the toothed Wheel O and represents a sprocket wheel rigidly atcauses the frame A to swing around on its tached to one end of the rod 25, and N repbearings the toothed wheel Q, until it brings resents another sprocket wheel rigidly atthe shaft C in direct line With the plate S taclied to the sleeve K, which supports and which plate always remains in line with the carries the supplementary fan wheel; the Wind. It is also evident that when the Wind sleeve K being adjusted te tit upon the shaft is not blowing with sufficient foi ce to opeiate 8o and may rotate independently thereof. the principal fan wheel, it may still have foice The two sprocket Wheels N and N are conenough opeiatiiw upon the tail o1 plate S to nected by a sprocket chain P. The supplecause the supplemental fan Wheel to rotate inentarytan Wheel is rgidlylocated upon the and keep the principal fan Wheel constantly end of the sleeve K and the blades aie conbefore the Wind. It is further evident that l structed in the same manner as those or the when the wind blows with so great a violence principal fan wheel, and are provided with as to be dangerous to the structure, or commeans foi opening and closing. he rods 6 miinicates too iapid ievolutions to the wheels and 6 piovided with piojections oi cranl i opens the blades of the piincipalfan wheel arms, -zt and 5', are connected respectivelv to so that they aie in a direct line With the u ind, 9o cross bars uniting` the series of tliefan blades and also contiols the tail oi blade S in such a and to straps GWhich are pivotally connected manner that the blades of the supplemental to the sleeve or sliding collar Glocated upon Wheel aie also in a diiect line with the Wind the sleeve K. The s eeve G is held in posiitbeing understood that in theii normal potion and caused to rotate with the sleeve K sition, and when the piincipal fan Wheel is by a spline, as shown in Fig. 3, biitis capable uirectlyin the face of the Wind, the blades of of longitudinal movement upon said sleeve. he supplemental fan Wheel are open and in It is provided with agroove in which are held direct line with the Wind so that the lattei the shoes 2O supported in a circular band 1S, ieceives no motion therefiom which band is provided with the arms 19. The It is evident that there maybe manychanges roo band 1S is supported upon the shoes pivoted and variations in the details of the constru`cas shown at 23. One of the arms 19 is pivottion of my impioveinent without departuie ally connected to an arm or strap 22 which is fiom the spirit of my invention, and I do not rigidly attached to the frame A. The up er desire to limit myself to the precise details of arm 19 is pivotallyattached to a rod 21 which construction shown. For instance it is evi- 105 is in turn pivotally connected With a projecdent that instead of the power received from tion or crank 24 on the sleeve O. the Wind through the principal fan Wheel be- The arrangement and construction ot the ing communicated to the opeiative inechair various parts connecting the rods that operism of the Wind mill by means of a freaiing ate the fan blades of the supplemental fan T, T, other Well known means such as acrank uo wheel with the sleeve G and the projection te., may be employed; and, also, instead of or crank arm 24c of the sleeve O are such that employing sprocket Wheels, N, N', and the when the tail oi blade S is in a direct line spiocket chain P to communicate the motion with the axis of the shaft C, the blades of the oft esiippleinental Wheel to the screw thread supplemental fan Wheel Will also be in planes ed iod 25 and thence to the toothed Wheel Q 115 at are in a direct line with said axis, and and the frame A gearing or othei Well known tne Wind in passing through the suppleinenmeans may be employed for accomplis-hing tal fan Wheel will have no effect thereupon. the same purpose and so in other parts.

laving thus desciibed the consti uction or laving thus desciibed my invention what my invention, now proceed to describe its claim as new and desire to secuie byLetteis- 12o mode of operation: When the principal fan Patent of the United States, is Wheel presents its inner face to the Wind di- 1. In a Wind mill a principal fan Wheel prorectly, its blades are forced open by the piess vided with means for automatically openinor ure thereof, and it rotates with the maxim um and closing its fan blades depending on the force of the Wind. When the iesistance from foice of the wind in combination With a su 125 t e giindinfT mechanism below cause it to veer pleinentary fan Wheel; a tail or blade, a shaft or shift from directly facing the Wind, it supporting both of said fan wheels, a'frame changes the relative position of the shaft C carrying said shaft in'bearings and su portto that of the tail or plate S. he moment ing said tail or blade, and means whereby the this occurs, or the Wind varies or changes movement ot' said tail or blade changes the 13o from a direct line with the shaft C, which planes of the fan blades of the supplemental throws the plate S to the right or left as the fan Wheel before the Wind, and thelattei fan case may be, which is forced upon bars 6 the former fan wheel constantly before the wind; all substantially as shown.

2. In a wind mill a principal fan wheel whose fan blades are provided with means for automatically closing and opening before the pressure of the wind; a frame rotating upon a toothed wheel and provided with a rod or shaft having a screw thread engaging with said toothed wheel; a shaft heldin said frame and carrying said principal fan wheel; means for communicating the motion and power of said shaft to the operative mechanism of said wind mill; and a tail or blade and a supplemental fan wheel with connections between said tail or blade and said supplemental wheel and means whereby forward or reverse motion may be given by the wind to the screw threaded shaft and its engaging toothed wheel and the principal fan wheel kept directly before the wind; all substantially as shown.

3. In a wind mill the combination of a frame rotatable upon a toothed wheel on the frame work of the mill and provided with journals and a screw threaded rod or shaft; a shaft held in journals of said frame;a principal fan wheel rigidly held upon one end of said shaft; means for communicating the power and motion of said principal fan wheel to the operative mechanism of said mill; a supplementary fan wheel supported on a sleeve on the other end of said shaft; a tail -or blade movably supported by a sleeve upon a projection of said frame; and means connecting the sleeve of said fan or blade with the fan blades of the supplementary fan wheel whereby any change in direction of the axis of said tail or blade from that of the axis of the shaft changes the planes of the fan blades of the supplementary wheel; sprocket wheels rig-- idly located upon the shaft and the screw threaded rod or shaft, provided with an endless sprocket chain whereby the revolutions of the supplementary fan wheel caused by the wind operate the screw threaded shaft and toothed wheel engaging therewith, overcornethe resistance of the operative mechanism and bring the tail or blade and the axis of the shaft into alignment in the direct course of the wind, all substantially as shown.

4:. In a wind mill the combination ofa frame having journals, a shaft supported in said journals, a fan wheel rotatable thereon; a sliding sleeve or collar upon the sleeve of said fan wheel provided with connections with the respective series of fan blades in said fan wheel whereby the movement of said sliding sleeve or collar on said main sleeve may open or close said fan blades; a ring or band pivotally supported by shoes moving in a groove in said sliding sleeve or collar and provided with arms one of which ispivotally attached to the frame by a strap or rod; a tail or blade supported by a sleeve held and rotatable on a projection from the frame and provided with a crank arm which is pivotally connected by a strap or rod with the second arm of said ring or band; a toothed wheel supporting said frame, and a rod heldin brackets having a screw thread engaging with said toothed wheel, and means for connecting and communicating the motion of the rotatable sleeve ot' the fan wheel to the screw threaded rod; whereby any change in the direction of the tail or blade with reference to the axis of the shaft changes the planes or faces of the fan wheel from direct lines to angles to the course of the wind and the forward or reverse motion of the fan wheel is communicated to the toothed wheel and the frame and the latter caused to rotate until the shaft and the tail or blade are again in line in the direction of the Wind; substantially as shown.

5. In a Wind mill the combination of a tail or blade S held by a sleeve rotatable upon a projection of the frame, said sleeve provided with an arm or crank having pivotal connections with the band J supported in a groove in the sliding sleeve G', said sliding sleeve being located upon the sleeve K, which carries the fan wheel and is rotatably held upon one end of the shaft C; connections between the sliding sleeve G and the respective series of fan blades in the fan wheel whereby the change in direction of the tail or blade S with reference to the axis of the shaft changes the direction of the planes of the blades of the fan wheel and enables the wind to give a direct or reverse motion to said fan wheel; all substantially as shown.

6. In a wind mill, a frame anda shaft supported therein, a fan wheel supported on a sleeve held rotatably upon one end of said shaft, a sprocket wheel held rigidly upon the sleeve of said fan wheel, and a toothed wheel rigidly attached to said frame, and a rod supported in brackets attached to said frame provided with a screw thread engaging said IOO toothed wheel; a sprocket wheel and sprocket I shown.

THOMAS H. MCCLEAN. Witnesses:

GEORGE W. WARD, J. H. GRAHAM.

IIO 

